Osteospermum plant named ‘Balserimwhi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant named ‘Balserimwhi’, characterized by its white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous and upright-mounded, vase-like growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Variety denomination: ‘Balserimwhi’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balserimwhi’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Santa Paula, Calif. during April 2003. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Osteospermum cultivars that are freely flowering with unique flower coloration and a freely branching, compact, and upright growth habit.

The new Osteospermum cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Osteospermum ecklonis breeding selection designated 33056-2, not patented, characterized by its white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Osteospermum ecklonis breeding selection designated 33056-1, not patented, characterized by its white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during December 2003 in a controlled environment at Santa Paula, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since December 2003 at Santa Paula, Calif., Arroyo Grande, Calif., and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balserimwhi’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant:

-   -   1. White-colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous and upright-mounded, vase-like growth         habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in growth habit and from plants of the male parent primarily in growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Osteospermum cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Serenity™ White ‘Balserwhit’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,334. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balserwhit’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are taller than plants of         ‘Balserwhit’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color different from         plants of ‘Balserwhit’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balserimwhi’. The plants were grown in 4.5 inch pots for 11 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balserimwhi’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Balserimwhi’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Jun. 9, 2006 between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5 inch pots for 11 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis cultivar     Balserimwhi. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Osteospermum ecklonis breeding             selection designated 33056-2, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Osteospermum ecklonis breeding             selection designated 33056-1, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 9 to 12 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 28 to 32             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant Description:     -   -   Crop time.—Approximately 10 to 13 weeks from a rooted             cutting.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             upright-rounded, vase-like.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 22.2 cm. Width: Approximately 25.2 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching. Quantity of main branches             per plant: Approximately 5.         -   Branch.—Strength: Strong. Length: Approximately 18.7 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 3.9 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 5.6 mm. Texture: Glandular pubescent. Gland             color: Colorless. Color of young and mature stems: 144B. -   Foliage Description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 25. Fragrance: Pungent. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Alternate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to stem becoming an obtuse angle             with age. Shape: Spatulate. Margin: Widely dentate. Apex:             Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of             mature leaf: Approximately 4.9 cm. Width of mature leaf:             Approximately 2.1 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Densely pubescent on margin and glandular pubescent on             surface. Gland color: Colorless. Color of upper surface of             young and mature foliage: 137A with venation of 145C. Color             of lower surface of young and mature foliage: 138B with             venation of 144D.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1.4 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 3.5 mm. Texture: Mixture of glandular and             non-glandular pubescence. Gland color: Colorless. Color:             145C. -   Flowering Description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balserimwhi’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the             plant.—Approximately 8 to 10 days. -   Inflorescence Description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Solitary, composite. Persistent.             Shape: Round. Aspect: Facing upward. Arrangement: Terminal,             held above the foliage, arising from leaf axils. Disc and             ray florets develop acropetally on a capitulum. Fragrance:             Pungent. Quantity per plant: Approximately 3. Diameter:             Approximately 6.9 cm. Depth: Approximately 2.0 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:             Approximately 8.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Texture: Glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless. Color:             137C.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 4 to 6 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 4.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: Approximately             1.6 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.2 cm. Color: 154D.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 23.             Arrangement: Imbricate in a single whorl. Aspect: Initially             at acute angle to disc, becoming perpendicular at maturity             and downward turning as sensece. Shape: Oblanceolate.             Margin: Entire. Apex: Emarginate with three tips. Base:             Attenuate. Length: Approximately 3.5 cm. Width:             Approximately 8.5 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous.             Texture of lower surface: Glabrous with densely pubescent             base. Color of upper surface when first and fully open:             Purer white than 155D with base of 86B. Color of lower             surface when first and fully open: N187D with ribs of N77C.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 80.             Arrangement: Massed in center of inflorescence. Shape:             Tubular. Margin: Entire. Apex: Five acute tips. Base:             Attenuate, fused. Length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Diameter at             apex: Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately             1.0 mm. Texture: Pubescent. Color when fully open: N92C at             tips fading to N77D toward base.         -   Disc.—Diameter: Approximately 1.2 cm. Depth: Approximately             4.0 mm.         -   Receptacle.—Shape: Conical. Height: Approximately 2.3 mm.             Diameter: Approximately 6.0 mm. Color: 154D.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 22.             Arrangement: In a single whorl. Shape: Linear to lanceolate.             Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Length:             Approximately 1.0 cm. Width: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture             of upper or inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower or             outer surface: Glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless.             Color of upper or inner surface: 138B. Color of lower or             outer surface: 138A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Stamen quantity: 5 per flower, fused around the style.             Stamen length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Anther shape: Linear.             Anther length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther color: 177A.             Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 17B. Gynoecium:             Present on ray and disc florets. Pistil quantity: 1 per             floret. Pistil length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Stigma shape:             Two-parted. Stigma length: Less than 1 mm. Stigma color:             N92C. Style length: Approximately 6.0 mm. Style color: N92C             at apex fading to 155C toward base. Ovary diameter:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Ovary color: 150D. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Osteospermum has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named ‘Balserimwhi’, substantially as herein shown and described. 